IDEA CENTER
Kitchen islands are hot items among homeowners who are remodeling or building their kitchens from scratch. If you’re among them, why stop at the standard features? With some creativity — and the help of a talented designer and cabinetmaker — you can equip your island with all kinds of handy bells and whistles. Find inspiration in these clever kitchen island designs.
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Removable Inset Cutting Board
Owners of beautiful edge-grain wooden island countertops might think twice about using them as cutting surfaces. This T-shaped one from century-old cypress logs pulled from the bottom of a river, addressed that reluctance by insetting a designated cutting board. It’s made from the same sinker cypress wood but in end-grain block construction, which shows knife marks less readily and is easier on blades than edge-grain. The best part? The board is removable, making cleanup, maintenance and serving a breeze. |
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Integrated Chopping Block and Knife Holder
This island in a Chicago-area duplex penthouse features a thick end-grain butcher block contiguous with a sleek, light-colored countertop. Look closely and you’ll see a stainless steel knife holder built right into the block. Design note: Mixing materials — especially wood and stone or quartz — is on-trend for kitchen island countertops. |
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Dog Bowl Station With Pot Filler
Pet owners may drool over this kitchen island, equipped a niche at one end with two dog bowls and a pot filler for easy top-ups. Marble and mosaic tile protect the wooden island and floor from sloshing water. |
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Charging Drawer
A tangle of cords and small electronics atop an island is unattractive — and can spell disaster if there’s a spill. A charging drawer outfitted with plugs and outlets not only keeps the counter clear and your devices safe, but also heads off that “Where’s my phone?” panic each morning. |
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Paper Towel Drawer
Paper towel dispensers can detract from the beauty of your countertop, however, we have designed multiple solutions for keeping your kitchen clean from dirt and clutter. The open front drawer is easy to access and offers storage. A closed front drawer is also available and adds a beautiful solution for storage. |
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